Any Exit By Us Airways Troubles Suburbs

[USA320Pilot]

The ACAA is running the risk of losing US Airways and its assets by playing hard ball. The company does have an alternate Pittsburgh plan that could be consummated in the not-so-distant future, which does not include a significant Pittsburgh presence for any department within the company.

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Right now in management's eyes, it's all about costs.

Regards,

Chip

 

[delldude]

life will go on either way.....economies will rebound sooner or later....

 

[USA320Pilot]

Delldude:

Delldude said: "life will go on either way.....economies will rebound sooner or later...."

Chip comments: It appears from the tone of the article, if US Airways pulls out of Pittsburgh, the local townships believe "life will go on" in the same form as today, but much, much later. In fact, this economic hardship could be much harder on Western PA than the demise of the steel industry.

Regards,

Chip

 

[AOG-N-IT]

Delldude:

Delldude said: "life will go on either way.....economies will rebound sooner or later...."

Chip comments: It appears from the tone of the article, if US Airways pulls out of Pittsburgh, the local townships believe "life will go on" in the same form as today, but much, much later. In fact, this economic hardship could be much harder on Western PA than the demise of the steel industry.

Regards,

Chip

From what I got out of this article...The Townships surrounding the airport would like to know what's what??....So they can plan accordingly.


This is a common thread they share with all the USAirways Employee's themselves.

I know the municipalities have a budget...and the budget has to be maintained via the tax base...yet not knowing what the deal is ? , has everyone on hold.

I can see these townships hesitance to not bet on U anymore...and why should they? U has already crippled them in some respects , Pittsburgh itself is close to bankrupt ...and my latest readings show that thier municipal bonds have been reduced to near "Junk Status" With this in mind...how can the county and state give and give to a still un-certain tennant like USAirways?

Chip....I realize you have a lot at stake here...We all do....but don't try to paint a picture of the local towns being the villans here...as you have your fellow employee's in the past.
Allegheny County , The Commonwealth of Pa. and the loyal employee's of U are no more responsible for U's situation , than they are the crash of the Hindenburg

U's problems are a historical one that reached critical mass....and the common bond of all the problems stem from poor leadership and poor judgement.....those facts you can clearly hang around the necks of the folks that are supposed to be running this joint....but aren't !!....unless running it into the ground counts?

 

[USA320Pilot]

AOG-N-IT:

Allegheny County built an airport based on old economic forecasts that did not pan out. The world has changed and so far the ACAA has not been willing to change -- to address the primary airport problem that the bond debt makes it impossible for Pittsburgh to be profitable hub for US Airways.

However, just like at US Airways, everybody wants the other guy to take a haircut, but not me...let it be somebody else and the ACAA needs to change its tune now.

I live in Pittsburgh and from a personal perspective I want the hub to survive, so I can eventually return to the Western Pennsylvania airport for work versus commute.

US Airways must address its cost problem because domestic revenues will continue to fall. There needs to be a comprehensive solution that encompasses all areas of the company or this airline, just like every other network carrier, could fail. Simply put, US Airways' CASM must be below RASM and the ACAA has the opportunity to help US Airways balance that equation, to create a win-win for Western Pennsylvania, the airline, and Pittsburgh-based employees.

But as each day goes by and other industry airline events unfold, there is a higher probability that US Airways will leave Pittsburgh. The company has a good opportunity to move its assets to new areas, which have higher O&D traffic that may become available in the not-so-distant future. In fact, I understand a move could become public reality fairly soon, without a deal to keep the Pittsburgh hub reached in the near-term.

AOG-N-IT, industry consolidation is coming and one of the questions are: Will Pittsburgh be a part of it with the airport and its surrounding facilities a vibrant operation...or will the airport become a white (empty) elephant?

Regards,

Chip

 

[delldude]

Chip:i'd be the last to wish dread on this entire area,but if U pulled out....you never know.....could be the best thing that happens for the area.
the mills were doomed technologically.......new methods replaced antiquated outdated facilities.was only a matter of time.
as for acaa....this might open the door to LCC'S and jobs in the long run.i'm sure there would be a drop economically ....but i don't think dayton and columbus shriveled up and died.

 

[delldude]

But as each day goes by and other industry airline events unfold, there is a higher probability that US Airways will leave Pittsburgh. The company has a good opportunity to move its assets to new areas, which have higher O&D traffic that may become available in the not-so-distant future. In fact, I understand a move could become public reality fairly soon, without a deal to keep the Pittsburgh hub reached soon.

ok chip...hows about some insight into where these rumored areas are.inquiring minds want to know.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Chip,

"Allegheny County built an airport based on old economic forecasts that did not pan out." - did the ACAA decide to build the new terminal in a vacuum or was U a prime driver of that decision?

"The world has changed and so far the ACAA has not been willing to change" - haven't the ACAA, city, and state made offers that would reduce costs at PIT? Isn't it U who is sticking to the original demands and unwilling to compromise?

"However, just like at US Airways, everybody wants the other guy to take a haircut, but not me" - again, it is U that is threatening to "take its marbles and go home" unless it gets everything it wants.

"US Airways must address its cost problem because domestic revenues will continue to fall." - REVENUES are on the rebound as traffic picks up. YIELDS will continue under pressure due to the LCC's expanding presence.

"US Airways' CASM must be below RASM and the ACAA has the opportunity to help US Airways balance that equation" - once again, haven't offers been made that would do just that? Only Siegel's "give me everything I want or it's your fault" attitude is standing in the way.

"The company has a good opportunity to move its assets to new areas, which have higher O&D traffic that may become available in the not-so-distant future." - name one airport in the eastern half of the country with higher O&D traffic that doesn't already have a major hub tenent, significant LCC presence, or both.

"industry consolidation is coming" - quite possibly though not guaranteed. The bigger question is whether U will be a part of it if it comes.

"Will Pittsburgh be a part of it or will the airport and its surrounding facilities be a vibrant operation or a white (empty) elephant?" - unfortunately for PIT, it is too close to the east coast to be a major hub for a true nationwide airline since they all have east coast hubs. AMR tried the mini-hub concept (RDU & BNA) and we all know how that worked out.

Jim

 

[700UW]

Lets see, let me call my mortgage company as when I built my house it was under an old economic plan where I was making $800 more a month and only paid $16 a month for insurance and tell them I want my costs lowered, you know what they will say?

GO POUND SAND.

Stop with the diatribe all ready, we are all tired of the infamous UCT/ICT, PIT being held hostage to UAL, it is all false and makes the molecule of creditability that you have left disappear.

 

[AP Tech]

I think the county government is just being realistic with USAirways. They are holding firm to which they should, the county is not like the employee's which evertime there is a downturn in the airline industry "Dave" comes back for more......The employee's opened the door in good faith twice and what happens he comes back for a third time. When is this going to end?
I hope the county countinues to play hardball with U and if unfortunately U pulls out I am sure they will, to quote "Dave".........ADAPT to the cards they are delt.

 

[AKA_trvlr64]

Chip Chip Chip............

your quote: infact, this economic hardship could be much harder on Western PA than the demise of the steel industry.

Oh please! The steel industry "was" the backbone of this area. The airline industry is not. Western PA and PGH survived and thrived for a number of years after the demise of the steel mills. Infact PGH did grow into a technological and healthcare powerhouse. Look at the land where some of those former steel mills were located. This land is now Research for medicine and computer technology.

your quote: I live in Pittsburgh and from a personal perspective I want the hub to survive, so I can eventually return to the Western Pennsylvania airport for work versus commute.

How long have you lived in PGH? Not long enough if you don't know the history of the steel mills in this area.


your quote: Allegheny County built an airport based on old economic forecasts that did not pan out. The world has changed and so far the ACAA has not been willing to change -- to address the primary airport problem that the bond debt makes it impossible for Pittsburgh to be profitable hub for US Airways.

An airport BUILT for USAIRWAYS. The problem is we had county commissioners at that time who believed in this airline. The pride of this community of having a "hometown" airline was rampant in the 80's and early 90's. Today's lesson is more realistic..........don't put all your eggs in 1 basket. USAirways future may not be as big as it once was in PIT. Big deal. People will continue to fly. I have to do it every week of the year for my job. And there will be other airlines still available for us to fly on. Will another airline make PIT a hub? NO! Nor should the community want that. What we should want is choice. Choice of carrier. Choice of price. Choice of frequency. Something that your BOSSES have help take away from us.

Guess what Chip? As much as I've been loyal to US for my entire flying life. Those other airlines that fly out of PIT have shown me that US is no better or worse. Those other airlines are getting my business because they get me to work and home again. Sometimes in a more timely manner too.



I wonder if I can call all of my credit card companies and my bank and say, You know I really don't think I can continue to pay my mortgage or my credit card bills. Can you forgive my debt? USAirways is doing it, why can't I?

Think we all should try this.

 

[delldude]

I ...The employee's opened the door in good faith twice and what happens he comes back for a third time. When is this going to end?

when and if, it will get vewy vewy iterwesting my fweind.

 

[Rudy]

There is still only part of the story being told with regards to "How Expensivie It is to do business at Pittsburgh"

I am a 737 Captain who resides in Pittsburgh and wants to see USAirways succeed here.

Last week as I entered the traffic pattern in Philly, I was only 5 miles from the Airport when I remarked to my First Officer, "How long do you think it will take before we are on the ground down there? I bet it will take between 25 and 30 minutes before we are down!" A puzzled look on his face revealed he didn't understand what I was trying to say.

We were vectored 37 NM West of Philly before being turned around and pointed back at the airport. Simple math makes that at least 74 miles of extra flying, jet fuel, labor costs etc.

Guess how long it took? 27 Minutes to be exact.

Is there anybody out there in cyberspace that can explain to me how this is not a "Cost of doing Business"?

All arguments of O/D vs. Connecting traffic asside, the Bond Debt in Pittsburh is only ONE PART of the entire cost of doing business. I have no faith that this company has a handle on the entire cost of doing business in any given venue, let alone this one.

In closing, I have a close personal friend, a CPA who retired as a CFO for a major Fortune 500 company. In his words, "You give me the financial picture you want to present, and I can make the numbers support this position".

This is just one of the many reasons why USAirways has no credibility left.

 

[marco90821]

Chip,

Who cares? PIT is nothing more than a blue collar working town with old ideas and bad attitudes. The majority of people in PIT are rude, disgruntled and have a give me attitude. They shouild just shut down PIT, move it to a more progressive area, Charlotte, and build from there.

 

[delldude]

Chip,

Who cares? PIT is nothing more than a blue collar working town with old ideas and bad attitudes. The majority of people in PIT are rude, disgruntled and have a give me attitude. They shouild just shut down PIT, move it to a more progressive area, Charlotte, and build from there.

sad point to everyone...i've lived under this rollercoaster crap for many years.(as everyone else has) :angry: i want a future or find another line of work.closure,one way or another.